OH, THE FARMERS AND THE HUNTERS SHOULD BE FRIENDS (MELBOURNE OUTSKIRTS, VIC., AUST.) WHO DUNN IT?

The following article was discovered because I was trying to find if there was a link between George Dodd of Keilor and Thomas Coffey of Bulla and had done a DELAHEY, KEILOR search on trove. Despite the protestations of innocence by Melbourne Hunt Club members,it is interesting that I have not found one instance of farmers complaining about damage caused by the Oaklands Hunt Club.

I have deliberately not corrected the digitisation for a reason. As a former teacher who had great success with children who had been underachieving readers, I am sick and tired of politicians who advocate phonics as the prime tool in improving reading standards. I certainly taught phonics but if a child was stuck on a word, sounding it out was the last resort, because reading is primarily about extracting meaning from written text. A child sounding out every second word can't see the wood for the trees! TAKE NOTE SAMANTHA MAIDEN OF THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN, AND CHRISTOPHER PYNE,VICTORIA'S MINISTER OF EDUCATION. You will be able to read the article without much effort at all by using PREDICTION, in other words, guessing a word that makes sense. That is the main reading strategy to develop Mr Pyne! Try sounding out the words that don't make sense and see how far that gets you! That's what it's like for a poor reader! Not fun at all!

THE HUNT CLUB AND THE FARMERS.
A meeting of mombers of the Melbourne Hunt, at which all farmers who considered they had any unsatisfied claims against tho club were invited to be present, was held yesterday at Goyder's Hotel, Bourke-streut, for the purpose of listening to any complaints the farmers had to make, and of considering the best means of reconciling the difficulties that existed between them and tho club.

Mr. J. Madden was in the chair. There wore about twenty mombers of tho club present, but oniy six farmers, the sympathies of the majority of whom were evidently with the club. The Chairman', in explaining the object
for which tho meeting was called, regrett?e! that the farmers had not accepted the challenge thrown down to them by the club, and attended the meeting. As they had refused it, and declined to attend and make their
claims, he thought they must be considered out of court, and that the club could not bo held responsible any further.

Mr. Basil Gray explained that he had attended a holu-and-corner sort of meeting, held a short time back by some farmers, for the purpose of passing resolutions which would annihilate the Melbourne Hunt Club in particular, and hunting in general, in Victoria ; but, as he learned that those who desired to express views in opposition to that schemo would be prevented from speaking, he soon left. He, however, heard it stated there that the club had wilfully destroyed property and endangered life ; that in no one instance had they offered to compensate the farmers for damage done to their crops ; and that if the latter obtained anything from thom after ap-
plication,, it was trifling in comparison with the injury they had sustained. In his opinion, the faimera assembled at that meeting very badly represented their class ; and that, in consequence, tho club need
take no notice of the resolutions they had adopted. As they had not chosen to attend the present meeting, which had been expressly called to enable them to stato their grievances publicly, he considered they had exonerated the club from taking any notice of them if made privately. He could only recollect ono occasion in which a crop
had been ridden over by the club.The Chairman explained that in the instance alluded to, immediate compensation
had been offered and accepted.

Mr. H. Delahey, of Keilor, remarked that although a farmer himself, he must say ho considered'the claims sent in to the club, in many instances, excessive. Mr. Pyke thought that it would be still advisable to adopt a conciliatory demeanour towards tliB farmers, and endeavour to meot them in a fair spirit. He would, therefore,
move-"That the Hunt Club reglet the unpleasant feeling existing between themselves and the farmers, and aro willing to either repair any damage done by them, or to agree to the appointment of assessois on each side,
and to abide by any decision given by them. Mr. B. Gray agreed with tho terms of the resolution, and suggested that, to save tho ?aimers all the trouble they could, it would be well to appoint an assessor in each district.

The Chairman observed that several farmers had suggested that instoad of receiving compensation for injury done to their fences, they would, in some districts at least,where wood was scarce, prefer that the club should send round a dray with a few rails, soon after tho hunt, and repair the damage done. To show that tho club was really anxious to meot the farmers, he might explain that two farmers, Messrs. Leslie and Wilson, had sent in claims for injury done to their fences at a recent hunt, and they would be paid, although their charges were not exactly correct. A gentleman at Heidelberg claimed ?10 10s. for a terrier dog which the houndB had killed, and though the charge appeared to be high, ho felt sure the club would pay it when they knew that the person whomade it was not one likely to make an unreasonable demand.

Mr. Goyder, in seconding the resolution, reiterated the assertion that the club had no desire, to injure the farmers-----them. He entirely approved of the appointment of assessors, and the only difficulty in carrying the suggestion into eflect would be that of obtaining men who really would tell
them what damage had been done. There must be some check of the sort, or thoy might in somo instances have farmers coming in every Monday morning, claiming compensation for damage they had nevor sustained. Ho believed, however, that the club would rather put up with a little imposition than irritate the farmers by too closely inspecting their claims. Ho wished the whole of the farmers weio as hearty supporters of the hunt as those residing at Dandenong, who not only readily allowed the riders to go overntheir land, but even, when the cap was handedround, put in handsomely, and promised to do so again.

Mr. Waldock, the master of the hounds, remindeei 'the meeting that tho club had already appointed six farmers residing in the various agricultural districts to act as assessors for them. He believed the club had dealt,and were prepared to deal, fairly by thefarmers, and he would promise to give ?100 to the Melbourne Hospital out of his own pocket on the day any one pointed out to him a caso in which he had not acted towards a farmer in the spirit a master of the hounds should not. He did not believe the feeling of opposition to the club was as strong as some mado it out to be, because ho know for a fact that some of tho farmers whost names wero attached to a document by Mr Dunn, warning him, as mastor of the hound? from coming on their land, had not autborised the uso of their names for any sucl purpose.

Mr. Goyder condemned the oxtrome language used by somo of the farmers at tholi late meeting when referring to tho Hun Club, but consideied that that should no induce the club to assume an antagonistic attitude towards them.

Mr. B. Gray suggested that the resolutioi should bo slightly altered, so as to read tha the club regretted the unpleasant feeling tha "appeared to oxist" between thomselves am the farmers. Ho did so because, in hi
opinion, such a feeling did not exist in th minds of the farmers as a class. Mr. Walduck considered that tho epithet of " Bourkc-8treet loafers," though not applicable to tho nunt Club, might be correctly applied to many of the non-subscribers wh followed the hounds. Ho would like to se the farmers assist the club to prevent thoa
persons joining in tho hunt, for the damag done to the fences was almost entirely occasioned by thom. '

The'resolution, amended according to Mr B. Gray's suggestion, was carried. Mr. Mitchell, of the Model Farm, objecte to the insinuation thrown out by Mr. Goydo that the farmers might on Monday morninf present - claims for damage thoy had nev< sustained. Speoific instancos should bo give in which that had been dono before a general charge was ' made against the farmers as a class.

Mr. Walduck said that, last Monday week three faimcrs, named Mansfield, Cumming and Sharpe, had sent in claims amounting t ?13, while, on examination, it was found tin ?10 10s. fully covered the damngo thoy hu sustained, .
Mr. Goyder explained that ho never itended by his remarks to make a gon?r chargo against the farmers. He morely wish?to impress upon the club th? necessity of taking some precautions to prevent tin being imposed on.

Mr. Boadle, of Prospect-hill, oxplained til it was his dog tho chairman had alluded to having been killed by the hounds. It h been worried in the presenco of his childrc with whom it had boen playing when t hounds carno up, without ovon an attempt to whip them off. He proceeded to instar several cases in > which considerable darno had been dono to his,and his neighbou property' when the hunt mot last Heidelberg, and especially condemned t manner ,in which,some of the riders h knocked down some panels of the cemetery fence, and grossly'abused one of the trust* when requested to put up tho rails again prevent to cattlo from getting,,in. He stated that the horse of one of tho hunters fell dead undor him, about two Cr three bundi yards from, tho cemetery ,and somo privi houses, and that when some labourers, v? were by, offered to bury it for a small
renouration 'the rider, replied that it had alrqi cost him enough.', out that the men mij have the skin for their trouble. The corquenco was that the dead body roman there still, to tho great annoyance of the
neighbourhood. _ . ' >

Mr. Goyder said that it'was his horse that had fallen down dead, but that ho had had no such conversation as that described by Mr. Roadie with any men. He would seo that the horse was buried. Air. Walduck assured Mr. Boadle that every attempt was made to whip the hounels off his little dog : but that they had killed it
before they could hu even reached.

Mr. Boadle believed that if the club would take ste?ps to prevent their hounds being followed by a number of non-subicribers, there were not threo farmers in the district he livetl in who would object to their hunting, so long as they avoided doing damage. Mr. B. Gray said the club were most anxious to do so ; but could Mr. Boadle inform him how they could prevent non-membeis following the hounds? Mr. Boadle replied that ho did not attend tbo meeting for the purposo of offering suggestions to the club.After some further discussion,

Dr. Pattehbon moved, and Mr. Pyke seconded, a vote of thanks to those farmers who had attended the meeting for the purpose of explaining their grievances to the club. The motion was carried, and tho proceedings terminated.
(P.1s, Argus, 6-7-1869.)

I had not realised what Edmund Dunn of "Viewpoint" (Melway 5 K12-D12 roughly)had started with his brave stance, despite reading all the proceedings of DUNN v WALDOCK. The latter's lawyer,Madden,tried to smother the case in points of law by taking it to the Supreme Court.

HUNT CLUBS AND FARMERS' LEAGUES.
The Adelaide Hunt Club, in the infancy of career, may learn in time useful lessons from the recent declaration of war between the huntsmen of Melbourne and the farmers over whose land they have hitherto followed the kangaroo, the dingo, or the red herring. The yeomen of Moonee Ponds, Pentridge, and other fertile neighborhoods, profess no hostility to the " fine old English sport" of hunting, but object to the manner in
which it is practised in Victoria. At the first blush it will appear to any ordinary comprehension, that the farmers and gardeners are under no obligation to offer apologies for taking measures to protect their fields and gardens from invasion and injury. As owners of the freehold or leasehold of these lands they have an undoubted right to possess them free from needless molestation, and are unable to understand why a gentleman's ornamental grounds should be protected against the slightest pedestrian intrusion, while the husbandman's land should be exposed to the incursions of troops of horsemen, tearing through hedges, breaking down fences, and trampling under foot whatever happens to lie in their way. They consider they have, or ought to have,the rights of property enjoyed by other classes of the community, and do not see that they would be sacrificing them to a higher object if they submitted to unlimited aggressions simply because the trespassers were gentlemen in search of amusement. They have been told there is the law to appeal to, but(like too many other ill-used citizens) they have found practically that the law is nothing more than a machine for wearing out the poor suitor with expenses and annoyances, and ensuring victory to the litigant with the longest purse. A Mr. Dunn complained of the injury caused to his property by the Melbourne Hunt Club, and finding them unwilling to give him compensation at all commensurate with the damage he had sustained, sued the Master of the Hounds in a Court
of law, and got more kicks than halfpence, the trumpery indemnification he obtained being nothing to set off against the heavy costs and worrying by counsel to which he was subjected. He was treated, in fact, as if he were some criminal, or some greedy extortioner endeavoring to victimise a few pleasant, free-hearted, "jolly dogs," who, in the exuberance of their spirits, had chanced to'gallop across his land. He went into Court an injured man, and came out a still more injured man. His class took this matter up,perceiving that what was Mr. Dunn's case then might any day be the case of any other farmer whose land might be crossed by a flying doe or a Yarmouth bloater. The farmers and gardeners then formed an Association bearing the comprehensive title of the "Fence, Field,and Chattel Preservation League," fixed the annual subscription of members' somewhat in proportion to the extent of their holdings, and decided that any member of the League aggrieved by the huntsmen should come upon the common fund for support and assistance in obtaining redress by legal means. This league having been duly organised, the Nimrods of the chase opened their eyes and became suddenly aware of the fact that though they may occasionally override their bounds, they have not carte blanche to override all country property without fear of consequences. They of course had no prescriptive or any other right to gallop freely over other persons' land, just because they smelt game ahead of them. Hunting is commonly allowed by farmers over their ground because,they do not wish to spoil sport, and sometimes because they join in the past-time themselves, but they infallibly complain if the amusement is followed with a reckless disregard of consequences to property. It therefore comes to this:?Huntsmen should first endeavor to do as little mischief as possible; and, secondly, should fully repair and compensate forany damage that is actually done. To destroy a man's property and then harass him with lawyers, is quite sufficient to breed hostility, and the defence, at the
expense of the Melbourne Hunt Club in the case of Dunn v. Waldock, and the manner in which it was conducted, amply warranted the position subsequently assumed by the agriculturists and horticulturists.
There are two classes of persons who turn out on hunting days to whom the farmers specially object. There are theroughs and jockeys, who ride neck-or nothing at and go out of their way to take fences, even if they lead into growing crops. This wanton destructiveness is much to be condemned, and is anything but sportsmanlike, for to say nothing of the old English custom of avoiding crops as much as possible, any true huntsman with a long run before him, will spare his horse as much as he can. But there is another class still more obnoxious,
usually composed of " cockneys " and unskilled or timid riders, who have no pretensions to the title of huntsmen at all, but simply go out in the hope of having fences broken for them through which they may scramble. They seldom if ever see the end of a run, they follow till some obstruction pulls them up, and
then, after trampling and cutting up the corn under the pretence of forcing their horses at the leap, return to boast of their wonderful exploits. A British farmer cannot stomach this sort of thing; he will more easily bear five times the amount of injury from the honest country rider, who fears nothing, than from the mere pretender. Persons who cannot follow hounds in a sportsmanlike manner should be content to see them " throw off," and
then satisfy themselves with a canter home, instead of making themselves ridiculous, and bringing discredit upon the sportsmen they are making feeble efforts to imitate. Conducted properly there is no fear of hunting becoming unpopular with farmers. It is a sport congenial to almost all persons with rural tastes, and with its healthy excitement and ample exercise, forms a pleasant relief, to those who can afford it, from wearying and irksome pursuits. Moreover, there is no question that whereever hunting is common it tends to improve the breed of horses. A racer in these days of light weights and handicaps is frequently good for nothing off the "turf," but most of the finest qualities of a horse must be combined in one that can take a succession of strong post and rail fences, and live through a long run across country. The hunter is the beau ideal of a horse, and if breeders aim at such a standard there need be no fear of deterioration in our hacks. But as a Hunt Club cannot exercise on its own freehold, care should be taken not to injure or annoy those upon whose kind consent the very existence of such a Club must depend.? Express and Telegraph.
(P.2,The South Australian Advertiser, 28-6-1869.)

Adam Lindsay Gordon couldn't have put it better!

Here's some information about some of the people involved in the story.
DUNN.Edmund Dunn was a trustee for the Methodist church and despite dodging the toll gate near Viewpoint by exiting his property in different directions according to his destination,he was a peace-loving man like those in the Methodist Nash,Parr and Wright families. However when wrong was triumphing over right, he stood his ground,just like another Methodist leader at Tullamarine,Tommy Loft, about 60 years later, who had the Junction Hotel closed; Cec and Lily Green were later shown a bullet, lodged in an inside door,which had been fired during an attempt to arrest Squizzy Taylor at the pub! Edmund had complained not only about his crushed crops,but also about ewes that were so traumatised that they could not drop their lambs.

DELAHEY. I have tried to find what kind of farming the Delaheys were carrying out on their large area of land between Milleara Rd and the river but without success. I suspect that he was a grazier and would have had few crops likely to be trampled.

GOYDER. This was probably Frank Goyder,mentioned by Harry Peck in MEMOIRS OF A STOCKMAN,who later owned part of John Pascoe Fawkner's Belle Vue Park at Pascoe Vale and owned some good racehorses.

MADDEN. Probably the lawyer/supplier of horses to the Indian army, who renamed Hugh Glass's "Flemington" as "Travancore"-which when subdivided was given street names from India, Cashmere being a corruption of Kashmir. Waldock's lawyer; probably Sir John Madden.

PYKE. Squatter on the Upper Werribee run who was granted much land near Ballan. Pyke's Flat seems to be the site of Pyke's Creek reservoir.

WALDOCK. Sam Waldock was a racehorse trainer at Flemington but advertised his establishment and many of his horses for sale early in 1867. (P.2, Argus, 2-1-1867.)

On Saturday last Mr. Waldock, the Flemington trainer, who has undertaken the mastership of the Melbourne hounds, brought them out for the first time this season. At one o'clock the space in front of the Racecourse Hotel, which was the fixture for the occasion was a scene of much bustle and liveliness, being scattered over with carriages, horsemen, and horsewomen, among the latter of whom the Misses Manners Sutton* filled a
conspicuous place, though they only accompanied their brothers as far as the throw-off.
(The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian, Saturday 13 June 1868 p 3 Article.)
*Their father Sir John Manners-Sutton was the governor and soon after became Viscount Canterbury during his tenure, thus accounting for the first two names for BLAIRGOWRIE.

MITCHELL. The manager of the model farm was Josiah Mitchell. I suspect that the model farm,about 160 acres,was the northern part of Royal Park.It was definitely near the Royal Park Station where 5 acres of the old model farm was planted with mulberry trees in an attempt to establish a silk industry. Because of the farm, West Brunswick residents had to go four miles instead of one to reach Flemington Rd. The Industrial School (Turana?) was built on one of its paddocks, as was the mental institution which led to the creation of Oak St.

Cause of Rust in Wheat.? We have received a pamphlet entitled 'The Cause of Rust in
Wheat,' being a paper read at Ballarat by Mr.Josiah Mitchell, of the Model Farm, Melbourne,together with a discussion thereupon. (South Australian Register, Saturday 20 February 1869 p 2 Article.)

ACCIDENT TO A VALUABLE HORSE.-A valuable mare, the property of Mr Mitchell, of the Model Farm, Melbourne, met with a frightful death on Saturday last, by jumping a low picket fence dividing the farmyard from an enclosure near the house. The leap, it would appear, was taken to avoid the attack of another mare, and in going over the low fence one of the sharp pointed pickets ripped open the belly of the animal; the bowels fell out on the spot, and the mare, after staggering for a few yards, dropped dead. Farmers will do well to avoid placing low " model fences " with sharp pointed pickets around their farmyards. (P.2,Bendigo Advertiser, 15-7-1869.)

MANSFIELD. The farm where damage was caused could have been on 16 Doutta Galla near the south west corner of the present Essendon Aerodrome, 22C Doutta Galla near the site of Westfield Airport Shoppingtown, Mansfield's Triangle, between Melrose Drive and Broadmeadows Rd (all Sam Mansfield),the 80 acre site of the Melbourne Airport terminal building (John Mansfield) or along Mansfields Rd near the historic Roseleigh homestead (David Mansfield.)

SHARP. This was James Sharp who had bought part of Foster's "Springs" (21 Doutta Galla)in about 1867. Sharps Rd,the boundary between the parishes of Doutta Galla and Tullamarine was named after James Sharp.

If only the Melbourne hunt had taken the advice of Mr Browne in 1866. He was on Camp Hill, of which Mansfield's Triangle had been a part before being sold off by Eyre Evans Kenny. He had a little girl named Pattie who later married Alfred Deakin. She remembered the injured deer in her later life. ("One episode in my early life stands out vividly in my memory," she states in her diary. "At Camp Hill, Broadmeadows,the meet of the hounds-the deer with a broken leg across the creek-the return of the hunters-my mother and father mounted-and my mother giving me her whip to hold-and again father looking splendid holding their two horses and letting me pat
them." WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED TO BUILD AUSTRALIA No. 3 of Series: Pattie Deakin
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Wednesday 11 December 1935 Supplement: Woman's Realm p 3 Article Illustrated.)

THE MELBOURNE HUNT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir,-Will you kindly, through the columns of your paper, allow me to suggest to the members of the Melbourne Hunt, and to the master of the hounds in particular, the propriety of choosing localities where there is
little cultivated land as the places for holding their " meets ?"
Last Saturday, had not tho stag unfortunately broken his leg as he was going down a steep hill on my property, he would have run through my crops, and those of the neighbouring farmers, followed by about a couple of hundred horsemen, which, as the crops are now up a good height, would have done considerable damage. As it was, a number of the horsemen, and one or two parties in conveyances, in coming to and returning from where the lame stag stood,instead of keeping on the farm-yard road, up which the stag had run, rode and drove over the ploughed land, lately sown with expensive grate-seeds, for about a quarter of a mile alongside of this road, because it was a little rough.
I should be the last person to say a word to discourage hunting, even if it were in my power to do so; and I would not have troubled you with this communication were there not many localities round Melbourne where there is little or no cultivation equally as suitable for the hounds to meet as the agricultural districts of Moonee Ponds and Broadmeadows. I feel sure the suggestion I have made will be endorsed by most, if not all, of the farmers in the neighbourhood, and considered reasonable by even the members of the hunt themselves.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, AN OLD SPORTSMAN. Camp-hill, July 17. ((P.5, Argus, 19-7-1866.)

Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.